6 Most Overlooked Alabama Towns For 2025

Alabama is full of surprises, especially if you venture beyond the usual tourist destinations. Sure, places like Birmingham, Mobile, and Gulf Shores draw the crowds, but the true “Heart of Dixie” is found in the dozens of small communities spread across Alabama. Pay a visit and you’ll be treated to the kind of authentic Southern experiences that you simply can’t get anywhere else in the state. Not only do these often-overlooked towns roll out the red carpet, but they also encourage visitors to have fun, whether it’s participating in local events or visiting their unique attractions. Find out why each of these six overlooked towns is a worthy addition to your 2025 Alabama travel itinerary.

Montevallo

Just a 45-minute drive south of Birmingham, Montevallo is perfect for a day trip from Alabama’s largest metropolitan area. Start exploring at the University of Montevallo, Alabama's only public liberal arts university. Designed by the Olmsted Brothers, the same group responsible for creating New York's Central Park, an influence you’ll recognize as you wander the grounds. As you stroll, look out for the oldest campus buildings, Reynolds Hall (1851) and the King House, both of which predate the university.

Afterward, head to Orr Park for what might be Alabama's most unusual attraction: the Tinglewood Trail. Since 1993, local artist Tim Tingle has carved over 50 faces, animals, and mythical creatures into park cedar trees damaged by an ice storm. These whimsical characters have been so popular with residents that the town now hosts an annual Tinglewood Festival. Held the first Saturday in September, it features wood carving contests and plenty of family fun, all for free.

Downtown Montevallo features the American Village, an 188-acre attraction where costumed interpreters recreate life in the colonial and revolutionary eras. You’ll also see replicas of iconic American landmarks such as Mount Vernon, Independence Hall, and even a colonial chapel. The Aldrich Coal Mine Museum is another must-visit and displays artifacts from the mine that operated until 1946.

Bayou La Batre

Founded in 1786 and known as the “Seafood Capital of Alabama,’ Bayou La Batre is famous for its shrimp, oysters, and crab. Caught by local fishing vessels, it’s processed at facilities along Shell Belt Road, many of them family-run for generations. This strong connection to the sea is celebrated during the annual Blessing of the Fleet in May. Held at St. Margaret Catholic Church’s dock, highlights include a fun waterfront parade of specially decorated boats along with a gumbo cook.

If you can’t make it for the blessing, you can still sample fresh shellfish at Murder Point Oysters. Alternatively, you can pick up fresh-caught delicacies from the Graham Shrimp Company or Dominick's Seafood to take home with you.

If you can stay awhile, the Lighthouse Restaurant serves delicious fried seafood platters, gumbo, and softshell crab po'boys when in season. Where to stay? Check out the Guest House Inn & Suites and the Bayou Inn & Suites, both of which get good reviews and offer affordable accommodations.

Dauphin Island

Dauphin Island, a 14-mile barrier island guarding the entrance to Mobile Bay, is connected to the mainland by the three-mile Gordon Persons Bridge. Be sure to visit Fort Gaines at the island’s eastern tip, the scene of the Confederate surrender in 1864 during the Battle of Mobile Bay. This well-preserved pentagonal brick fort still has its original cannons, officers' quarters, bakery ovens, as well as the anchor from the USS Hartford.

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab operates the Alabama Aquarium with its large exhibit hall featuring Mobile Bay marine life. Pop in for the chance to handle stingrays in a touch tank, then take a walk along the Living Marsh Boardwalk for an up-close look at this unique coastal habitat. The Audubon Bird Sanctuary is a must-visit for birdwatchers as it’s a critical springtime stop for migrating species traveling from South America.

West End Public Beach charges a small admission but provides the island's best swimming conditions, while East End Beach near Fort Gaines is free. Indian Shell Mound Park, another must-see, preserves Native American oyster shell mounds dating to 1100-1550 AD.

Mentone

Located at 1,800 feet atop Lookout Mountain near the border with Georgia, Mentone is Alabama's only ski resort. The winter action here takes place at Cloudmont Ski and Golf Resort, home to two beginner-intermediate slopes with manufactured snow. The slopes typically operate from December through February; come spring, the outdoor action switches to golf.

The star of the show in Mentone, though, is DeSoto State Park. Encompassing 3,502 acres of Alabama’s most impressive natural beauty, it’s here you’ll find the lovely DeSoto Falls, a 104-foot-tall natural wonder (there’s also a great picnic area, so bring lunch). Afterwards, tackle some of the park’s 25 miles of hiking trails. Ranging from the easy Azalea Cascade Trail to the challenging 12-mile DeSoto Scout Trail, it’s a great way to see more of this beautiful part of Sweet Home Alabama.

Another spot you won’t want to overlook is Little River Canyon National Preserve, just 10 minutes away in nearby Fort Payne. Home to one of the deepest gorges east of the Mississippi River, its scenic drives feature several awesome overlooks with incredible views

Mooresville

Alabama's smallest incorporated town, Mooresville, has a population of just 70 souls in just a quarter of a square mile. It’s little wonder it is so often overlooked. Just blink, and you’ll miss it. Incorporated in 1818, a full 13 months before Alabama achieved statehood, the entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places, leading to its deserved nickname of "Alabama's Williamsburg."

Highlights include the Stagecoach Inn and Tavern, built in 1821 and Alabama's oldest frame public building (it serves as the town hall and a museum). The Brick Church, another landmark, was built in Greek Revival style in 1839 and features a wooden hand pointing skyward instead of a cross atop its steeple. Visit the old Post Office from 1840 and you’ll be entering Alabama's oldest operational postal facility, with numbered boxes continuously owned by the same families since before the Civil War.

Eufaula

Home to Alabama's second-largest concentration of National Register of Historic Places’ structures, Eufaula is well worth a visit. Here, the Seth Lore and Irwinton Historic District encompasses many buildings untouched since the town was laid out in 1834. As you explore look for the many charming examples of Italianate, Greek Revival, and Gothic Revival architecture, most of built well before the Civil War.

Highlights include the Shorter Mansion, dating from 1886 and boasting no fewer than 17 Corinthian columns supporting porches on three sides (guided tours are available, and it’s also a popular wedding venue). Fendall Hall, completed in 1860, is another must-visit and features some of Alabama's finest Italianate residential architecture with original 1884 hand-painted Victorian murals in three of its rooms.

While here, be sure to also visit Lake Eufaula. Spanning an impressive 45,181 acres, it’s a huge draw for bass fishers year-round, giving Eufaula its nickname of the "Big Bass Capital of the World."

The Final Word

There’s no doubt these six Alabama towns exemplify some of the state's most overlooked treasures. From tiny Mooresville with its population of just 70 residents to Bayou La Batre's seafood heritage, each community has managed to maintain its distinct character despite (or perhaps because of) its small size. Rest assured, if you do visit these six often overlooked Alabama towns, you’re guaranteed a truly authentic Southern experience.